Cheltenham Racing Tips 2018

In this betting guide, we’re going to provide you with a deep insight into Cheltenham 2018 tips, giving you all the information and advice you need to enhance your chances of making money betting on the Cheltenham racing festival this year.Read moreBet now!

…maximize your chances of winning. We cover key areas of the event, including the 2018 schedule, the main races themselves, and explain how the odds systems work.

For first-timers and seasoned fans of the festival alike, our aim is to make sure you’re prepared, well-informed, and confident to place bets during the event. After all, the better you understand betting, the more likely you are to walk way a winner.

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious National Hunt racing meetings in the UK. Held every year, the festival offers the country’s second-highest pool of prize money (following the Grand National).

Every March, the Cheltenham Festival attracts thousands of visitors to its grounds at Cheltenham Racecourse, in Gloucestershire. Numerous popular races take place during the festival, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the World Hurdle, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the Champion Hurdle.

Unsurprisingly, with such a variety of races unfolding across its schedule, the festival sees millions of pounds placed on its numerous outcomes. Spectators may make wagers at the event itself, in betting shops, and online – and it’s this latter option which offers fans the greatest freedom.

While attending the festival in person has several attractions – the atmosphere, seeing the magnificent horses competing up-close – simply being able to jump online to make bets is incredibly convenient. Not only can you make wagers from the comfort of your own home, you can also view the latest odds, upcoming races, and prize amounts all in one place.

Of course, there’s no reason you can’t still visit and use online betting to avoid the queues of fans, all clutching their betting tickets. Cheltenham Festival 2018 betting tips will be flying thick and fast during the event, with people trying to identify the hottest picks. If you’re not into mixing with other fans, virtual venues should be your top choice.

Online betting has exploded in recent years, and is the preferred choice of millions across the UK. Two of the biggest betting-focused sites, Betfair and Coral, offer a full, exciting experience with a huge range of betting options – the only thing missing are tickets to the event itself!

During the Cheltenham Festival, using Betfair or Coral to place bets while at home or on the go ensures you stand to win big prizes without taking time out of your day to visit the event or betting shops.

While 2017’s event has yet to take place, 2018’s schedule has recently been announced. Read on to learn more about Cheltenham Festival 2018 betting tips.

Cheltenham 2018 Tips: Studying the Schedule

The 2018 event will take place between March 13th and 16th, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup itself arriving on the final day. Unbelievably, a staggering £500m-plus is estimated to be spent on wagers, and over 200,000 visitors travelling from across the UK, Europe, and the wider world to take part in the event.

This early announcement of the schedule ensures dedicated followers of the sport can arrange time off work, make travel plans, and no doubt start researching the top picks. To help you prepare for the Cheltenham Festival 2018, we’ve put together the full schedule for you below.

Day 1: Champion Day (Tuesday 13th March 2018)

The first day of the event will see the Champion Hurdle take place, with the racing kicking off in the early afternoon:

1.30 p.m. Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2m 1/2f)

2.05 p.m. Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (2m)

2.40 p.m.Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase (3m 1/2f)

3.20 p.m. Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (2m 1/2f)

4.00 p.m Mares’ Hurdle (for the David Nicholson Trophy) (2m 4f)

4.40 p.m National Hunt Chase (4m)

5.15 p.m Novices’ Handicap Chase (2m 4 1/2 f)

Day 2: Ladies Day (Wednesday 14th March 2018)

The second day sees the popular Queen Mother Champion Chase arrive:

1.30 p.m. Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (2m 5f)

2.05 p.m. RSA Steeple Chase (3m 1/2f)

2.40 p.m. Coral Cup (2m 5f)

3.20 p.m.BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (2m)

4.00 p.m. Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (3m 7f)

4.40 p.m. Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m 1/2f)

5.15 p.m. Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Open NH Flat Race) (2m 1/2f)

Day 3: St Patrick’s Day (Thursday 15th March)

One of the highlights of the festival, especially for Irish guests, sees the Ladbrokes World Hurdle unfold:

As you can see, it’s a jam-packed schedule, offering plenty for dedicated and casual fans alike. Everyone attending the festival is sure to have a fun, exciting, memorable time – but if you plan to make bets on any of the races, how do you understand the odds? It’s no good studying Cheltenham 2018 tips if you struggle to figure out the most crucial part of the process.The four-day fixture is accessible for newcomers as well as more experienced fans, as there’s something for everyone. Cheltenham 2018 tips will become more and more sought-after as the event approaches, but we’re helping you way ahead of the curve!.

Let’s look at a few of the major events from across the festival to get a flavour for what you can expect.

Tuesday 13th March – Champion Hurdle

The feature race on Day 1 is the Champion Hurdle which this year has a very short-priced favourite in 2017 winner Buveur D’air. He has not come off the bridle to win three times already this winter in deep ground against inferior rivals, and should appreciate the much better ground conditions expected back at the scene of his greatest triumph. Most of his opposition have plenty to prove and have an exposed look to them, but the margins are always very fine in this two mile test of speed and one error would be one too many.

Wednesday 14th March – Champion Chase

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the highlight on Day 2 at the Festival. This is always a breathtaking spectacle run at a blistering gallop over two miles, and has produced some of the best finishes up the hill, with the complexion often changing rapidly as the frontrunners tire. The impressive 2017 Arkle Chase winner Altior seems sure to start a well backed favourite for the 2018 renewal, but he has had well documented wind problems and it would be a leap of faith to take a short price about his chances with little form on the track to assess his current well-being this season.

Thursday 15th March – Stayers Hurdle

The Stayers Hurdle is the feature race on Day 3 of the Festival, testing the stamina of top class performers at three miles. There have been some superb standout winners in recent history, with legends like Barracuda and Big Bucks making this a race to savour with their dominance. However the 2018 renewal has no such star quality, with the bookmakers offering around “4/1 the field”, and the northern raider Sam Spinner currently heading the market after some terrific displays of frontrunning this winter. He will have to prove himself in a bigger field here, and the undulations of Cheltenham are a completely different test, with competition for the lead on the cards and a slog up the hill perhaps not his ideal conditions. Perhaps the versatile Supasundae, fresh from beating Faugheen at Leopardstown in the Dublin Festival at two miles, will be a popular winner for Jessica Harrington.

Friday 16th March – Gold Cup

The finale to a fantastic four days, with all punters concentrating hard on trying to solve the Gold Cup puzzle. The 3m2f trip provides a unique test of both stamina and speed, and matters are further complicated this season as all the recent form has come on much deeper ground after a very wet winter both in the UK and Ireland. The 2017 renewal saw a thrilling finish with Sizing John showing a terrific attitude to assert up the hill in a bunched finish, but he was really disappointing at a short price when last seen out over Christmas and comes here under something of a cloud. Nicky Henderson’s Might Bite currently head the markets, but he has plenty of quirks and did not impress everyone when landing a substandard King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, so perhaps things are ripe for a big priced upset in 2018.

Cheltenham 2018 Tips: Understanding Odds

Without doubt, this can be a daunting area of wagering for newcomers. Some people may consider visiting the festival, but then feel out of their depth when they look at the odds on a specific race. To help first-timers place bets without becoming confused, we’ve compiled a brief guide. Usually, odds are given in one of two different ways in British racing. Let’s look at the standard ‘fraction-based’ system first.

Fraction-Based Odds

These are presented in a fractional format, such as 5/1. How do you apply this to the horse in question, and choose how to invest?

Well, at a basic level, figuring out odds is simple maths. For example, if you see a 9/1 odd on a race, this means for every single unit you put on an outcome, you will get nine back (as well as your stake amount).

You may see different ones, such as 7/2 (seven of your stake units in return for each two units you bet) or 8/4 (eight in return for each four you stake).

Should you see a horse with odds of 1/4, this is regarded as an ‘odds-on favourite’, meaning that horse in particular is a top choice likely to win the race. Of course, this is not a guarantee – the favourite to win can still come in second, third, or even last.

In some cases, you might see ‘Evens’ or even ‘EVS’ shown next to a horse, which means this is a 1/1 odd. This shows the horse assigned the odd is expected to claim the top spot. You will get a single unit back for every one you bet.

Decimal-Based Odds

The second system is decimal-based, and are typically presented in a format like this: 4.00. In this case, you could be required to just multiply the number provided with your stake to learn your potential win.

There is no better or worse system. Different fans prefer different systems. Newcomers may find the decimal-based betting system a little easier to understand.

Favourites

Now, let’s continue our Cheltenham 2018 Tips with a look at Favourites. Every race has a favourite horse most likely to win. As a result, more people are likely to place bets on these, and they are generally the safest pick for first-timers.

How will you know when a horse is classed as a favourite? They will have an ‘F’ displayed next to their odds, and occasionally, two horses may have the same odds. In this case, these horses will be classed as ‘JF’, for Joint-Favourite.

Knowing how these odds systems work, and the process of picking a favourite, will help to make your experience of betting on races at the Cheltenham Festival easier – and more fun.

Odds checker tools are popular online, providing comprehensive breakdowns of upcoming race-fixtures and the individual horses’ chances of winning. Consulting an odds checker can be helpful when trying to identify the best place to invest your money.

Chatting on forums is also a great way to stay up to date with the latest racing schedule and events, meet like-minded people looking for information, and pick up valuable tips. Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks are also powerful aids to staying current.

As we mentioned earlier, two of the biggest and most accessible online betting venues today are Betfair and Coral. Both of these have mobile versions ensuring you can get into your account, make bets, and process winnings at any time, any place.

Let’s look at both of these sites and explore their betting options for Cheltenham Festival 2018.

Betfair

As one of the biggest names in the world of betting, Betfair are well-respected, popular, and maintain a solid reputation amongst long-term racing-fans. When you choose to bet with such a reliable site, you can reassured that your money’s in safe hands and you’re guaranteed to receive your payouts.

Betfair are a huge favourite with the betting community. With a fantastic range of offers and promotions given on a number of sports, as well as generally competitive odds, it’s no wonder that Betfair are amongst the most talked about bookies worldwide.
Betfair, in particular, do horse racing very well. With odds offered on meetings taking place all over the world, even the most serious horse racing bettors will find something to enjoy.

Betfair Cheltenham offers are available throughout the Festival. Odds on many races are subject to the Betfair Price Rush, which could see your odds lengthen to result in even more profit. Other races can be subject to a variety of other promotions, it’s key to check out the Promotions tab each day to see what’s currently available for both new and existing customers.

Alternatively, check out the Betfair #oddsonthat markets, where you can take advantage of special bets or even request your own!

Betfair are also offering Non Runner No Bet on all Cheltenham Festival Championship races. These races are the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers Hurdle, Ryanair Chase and the ultimate prize, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Bet on a horse to win any of these races and if your horse fails to start, your stake will be returned to you in full!

If you’ve placed a bet by using a free bet, you’ll get your free bet credited back to your Sportsbook account, so long as it hasn’t expired.

There are plenty of ways you can get involved with Cheltenham at Betfair. Promotional opportunities have already begun, with some fantastic value odds to be found on selected races. Like to bet on Outright markets? You can do so at Betfair! The Top Cheltenham Trainer market is now open to bet on, so take a look and find yourself a cracking bet.

Other Cheltenham-orientated specials include selected horses to place in any race, and enhanced odds on certain horses to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. These promotions can vary, with Day-specific offers available, so before you bet check out the day’s specials and see what opportunities are there to potentially make much more profit.

You can also take advantage of Betfair’s Best Odds Guaranteed offer. Place a bet on a horse to win and if the odds lengthen between the time you put your bet on and the start of the race, you’ll get paid out at the higher odds!

Additional bonuses enhance your experience even more, bringing you a variety of options to increase your wins and make your stakes go further.

Betfair takes its customer-service seriously, and this translates into high-performance security on the site. When you invest money into a bet on a specific race, you want to feel satisfied that it’s safe, along with your financial details. Betfair has many returning clients who find their details stay protected again and again.

During the Cheltenham Festival 2018, you may become immersed betting, and look to mage wagers throughout the day. What happens if you encounter a technical error or have a question regarding your personal account? Betfair provides 24/7 customer care, by email, live chat, or phone. You can never underestimate the importance of round-the-clock support – this really is a deal-breaker for many customers.

Whether you’re planning to bet on the Cheltenham Festival 2018 from home, work, or at the event itself, Betfair is one of the leading choices open to you. They can be trusted to provide competitive odds and timely payouts.

Let’s look at Coral, another of the UK’s biggest, most reliable betting venues.

Coral

Coral has a long and successful history behind it. This brand has been in business for a long time, alongside other major competitors like William Hill and Ladbrokes, with high-street branches across the country. They still operate brick-and-mortar venues, but made the jump to online betting way back in 1997.

As a result, racing fans looking to bet on the Cheltenham Festival 2018 can take advantage of the competitive odds, quality service, and solid customer-support offered by one of the biggest names in the industry.

Coral are amongst the most popular bookmakers around, both online and on the high street. One reason for their continued success is their competitive range of odds and markets offered on a huge range of sports and events taking place all over the globe.

Horse racing bettors are particularly keen to take advantage of the daily offers Coral make available on racing from the United Kingdom and beyond. With promotions like Money Back on Selected Jumps meetings or Enhanced Odds on particular horses to win, there are plenty of opportunities for Coral bettors to increase the amount of profit they can make or to bet risk-free.

During the Cheltenham Festival, Coral make a number of bonus opportunities for both new and existing customers. Some are only applicable to certain races, generally the most prestigious races such as the Gold Cup, whereas others can be offered on any race taking place on any of the four days.

One such offer is the Coral Cheltenham Non Runner Money Back promo. Bet on a horse to win and if that horse fails to start you’ll get your stake back, meaning you lose nothing.

This offer is only available on the ‘big five’ races, namely the Champion Hurdle, taking place on the first day of the Festival; the Queen Mother Champion Chase, on 14th March; the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle, both taking place on 16th March; and finally the Cheltenham Gold Cup, on the Final Day.

Other Coral horse racing promotions are available to use on Cheltenham too. Coral offer Best Price Guaranteed, meaning if you take a price on a horse to win and that price lengthens in between the time you place your bet and the start time, you’ll get paid out at the longer odds!

Need help with your Cheltenham betting? Try the Coral Bet Finder. Via this function, you can view the latest results and form of horses, jockeys and trainers, improving your knowledge and thus giving you a better chance of profiting on your wagers.

In addition to the variety of Cheltenham Coral odds available throughout the event, you can also watch selected races via the Coral live streaming service. Terms and conditions apply to their streams, so if you want to watch the race live make sure you adhere to those t’s and c’s.

William Hill

Another bookmaker famed for their competitive odds and regular sports betting promotions is William Hill. At William Hill, you’ll find a broad range of promos and bonus opportunities available on sports and competitions taking place all over the world.

Horse racing is a major aspect of what William Hill offer. The variety of daily promotions available here is impressive, with plenty of options for you to enhance your potential profits.

This brings us nicely onto the Cheltenham Festival. One of the highlights of the season, Cheltenham is amongst one of the most wagered-on events in sport and bookmakers battle it out to offer the best odds along with the most enticing betting promotions in order to retain and attract customers.

The range of William Hill Cheltenham bonus options is impressive, and gives you ample opportunity to profit on your Cheltenham betting. How about their High 5 offer? Bet on a horse to win and if your selected horse wins by five lengths or more, William Hill will add an extra 15% as a free bet on top of your winnings!

Or why not take advantage of the William Hill ACCA 5 promotion? Available on selected races, if you place a 5+ fold accumulator and one leg lets you down, you’ll get your stake back. Check out the Lucky 7 offer too, another excellent way of increasing your profits if you bet wisely.

William Hill also offer a variety of Enhanced Odds on selected horses and meets. Check out the latest offers via the Promotions tab, as these offers can change from day to day.

One Cheltenham-specific offer William Hill have made available is their Non Runner Insurance offer. This offer is available on every race during Cheltenham, not just the major races like many other bookies are offering. Bet on a horse to win a race at Cheltenham and if that horse fails to start, you’ll get your stake back.

In addition to the offers stated above, William Hill are another bookmaker who offer Best Odds Guaranteed. This means if you take a price on a horse, but in between the time you place your bet and the start of the race the odds lengthen, you’ll get paid out at the longer odds! This means you can take the odds offered without worrying if the time is right – you’ll get paid out at the greater odds regardless!

Ladbrokes

A well respected and trusted bookmaker, the popularity of Ladbrokes is ever increasing. Their range of competitive odds has led to this popularity being maintained, along with their variety of bonus opportunities and promotions.

Ladbrokes are particularly popular with horse racing bettors. At Ladbrokes, you’ll find racing specials available on a daily basis,along with enhanced odds opportunities and Best Price offers.

There is a fantastic range of markets that are subject to Ladbrokes promotions and special offers. Like betting on Outright markets? There is a great range available here, from Best Trainer and Best Jockey to Any Horse To Win A Race and Where Will The Gold Cup Winner Be Trained.

For Cheltenham, Ladbrokes make offers available for each day of the Festival. Check out the latest specials on each of the four days, offers can vary depending on which race is coming up and which jockeys or horses are garnering the most interest.

One specific Ladbrokes Cheltenham offer is their Non Runner Money Back promotion. If you place a bet on a horse to win in any or all of the named races and your selected horse fails to start the race, you’ll get your stake back. The races that qualify for this offer are the Champion Hurdle; Champion Chase; Stayers Hurdle; Ryanair Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The famous five of Cheltenham, you don’t have to worry about placing an early bet in these races – if your horse doesn’t start you won’t lose a thing!

Ladbrokes are also a bookmaker that offers Best Odds Guaranteed on selected horse racing. If you take a price at the start of the day, and the odds drift, you’ll get paid out at the bigger odds! This means you don’t have to worry about betting at the right time, no matter what odds you take you’ll get paid out at the biggest price available from the time you’ve placed your wager to the start of the race.

Matchbook

Matchbook are a betting exchange whose popularity is increasing dramatically. Pitting themselves against some of the more established online exchanges, bettors are attracted by their 0% commission offers available on certain sports and events.

Horse racing falls into this category, with 0% commission charged on laying bets from time to time. Commission rates are generally low anyway, making it worth your while to join Matchbook at any time.

Horse racing offers are also available at Matchbook. Specials are also available on major events, with the Cheltenham Festival being a prime example of this.

Think you know who the top trainer at the Cheltenham Festival will be? You can back or lay against every trainer appearing at Cheltenham 2018 as part of the Matchbook Cheltenham 2018 specials list.

At Matchbook, you’re not restricted to betting on your laptop! Bet on the Cheltenham Festival 2018 via your smartphone or tablet wherever you are, and receive exactly the same service and opportunities as you would if you were betting on your PC.

You won’t find the same range of odds and markets here that you would at other bookmakers, but if you’re after a betting exchange which pride themselves on fairness, then Matchbook are an excellent shout.